chrisdetroit

So you think if the Pens win tonight that they will the follow that up by beating us 2 out of the next 3 with the critical games 5 and 7 in Detroit? Sorry, that just doesn't make any sense.

Wow. Talk about the glass being half full, now you are highlighting partial games. The Wings wn games 1 and 2 both by 2 goals each. The Pens were outscored by a total of 6-2 which I guess is a little better than last years 7-0. The second game the Pens won by 1 goal + an empty netter. But if you want to take solice in the fact that they were close until a certain point in the game, that's up to you.

hahahaha. Two words. Pavel Datsyuk "Wing, center, defenseman … I want to play so bad. I don't want to watch this game again." -- Pavel Datsyuk Think he's a little fired up I think that you better change that 50/50 for game 4

Ok Mindfly II, this is crap. 1. Yea they outshot us by 2 shots in the first game in 6 in the 2nd. We had the lead going into the 3rd and after 6 minutes we had a 2 goal cushion in both games. At that point we didn't need more shots. 2. Yes we had to many giveaways. Why do you think that this will continue? As Babcock says, we were exhausted Sunday. One would assume that the giveaways were at least partly caused by this. There's no reason to assume that we won't play better tonight (unless you are Mindfly) 3. Your biggest concern is match-ups? Really? And you assume that our top guys are playing more than theirs? Did you know that they only dress 7 D-men? In game 1 Z played LESS than Malkin and about the same as Crosby. The danger level of Crosby? Well I don't know if anybody told you but even when he is not plying against Z, he as ZERO points the first 2 games. 4. You think the Wings would lose a game 7 on home ice? Come on. Not gonna happen. 5. What about goaltending? Did you forget that Fleury has a .904 save percentage and is playing poorly? How bout the Abby goal in game 2. How's Ozzie playing? LOL 6. They hit posts? Really? I think I remember us hitting a couple. 7. Our guys are more exhausted than theirs because of injuries? That would only be true if we were shortening our bench which we are not doing. Bottom line, the Pens are NOT going to beat us 4 out of the next 5 games. The games have been pretty even except our goaltending has been far superior. Based on that how do you see them beating us 4 out of 5 times?

Huh? He skated yesterday in practice. crutches? If he can skate at all I don't think he has crutches?

As long as he's back in time to skate around the ice with the Cup....

Good point. They let ALOT of stuff go that should have been called. I'm all for letting them play but what they SHOULD call (IMO) is stuff that leads to or prevents scoring chances. The puck on the back is not clear one way or another and I don't want to see stuff called that aren't clearly penalties.

9 times out of 10 that's called. He clearly slashed Helm on the hands. If it's not on the hands, maybe not.

If any player other than the goalie covers the puck IN THE CREASE with his hand, it's a penalty shot. Was he in the crease? hard to tell. did he cover the puck? hard to tell...

This says it all "You can see it in his [Hossa's] eyes. I saw it in the last couple of games. How great did he play?" Cleary said. "He's focused, you can see that will and determination in him.

Last year game 1 no Hossa, no Mule. Final Score Det 4 Pens 0 We'll be ok. Quote of the playoffs: "You can see it in his [Hossa's] eyes. I saw it in the last couple of games. How great did he play?" Cleary said. "He's focused, you can see that will and determination in him. Hoss is going to prove the Pens fans that it was the right decision...

I'm with you. I don't see the Pens beating us 4 times. It's pretty obvious that you can't beat the Wings with a run and gun type game. To beat the Wings you need to play a strong defensive game. You need to keep the Wings shooters to the outside and have outstanding goaltending. This is not the Pens style. They just don't have a shut down defense and Fluery has been mediocre. A .902 save percentage just isn't going to cut it. The Wings lost 4 games in the playoffs and 2 of them were in OT. The other 2 were by 1 goal. They have not allowed more than 3 goals in regulation yet. More than 50% of the Pens goals come from Malkin, Crosby and Guerin. Last year we shut down Malkin and Crosby. Ok they are more mature this year but we still have Z and Lids and we added a very good defensive player in Hossa. Ok Lids is probably not 100% but since he was good to go yesterday, my guess is he's at least 90%. Big E is probably close to 100%. Pasha will be back in a couple of games and we have Mule for the first games that we didn't have him for last year. I just don't get it. Some of the analysts are going gaga over Malkin and Crosby and ignoring the facts. They are picking the Pens because they are better than last year (offensively). It makes for a good Hollywood story but this isn't Hollywood. Wings in 5.

Well said. Blysma's system is an offensive minded system more "run and gun" and this has served the Pens well, however there is a problem. It is LESS of a defensive minded system that Therien's system. This is going to make it more of a challenge for the Pens to shut down the Wings and more of a problem for the Wings to shut down the Pens. The Wings are puck possesion team and are very good defensively. If the Wings can shut down the run and gun, the Pens have no chance because they are actually worse defensively this year than last. And more than 50% of the Pens goals come 3 guys from Malkin, Crosby and Guerin. 2.15 GAA last year in the playoffs and 2.76 this year. More than 1/2 a goal per game difference. This ranks 8th in this years playoffs. The Wings went fron 1.86 to 2.12 about 1/4 of a Goal per game difference. This is second behind only Boston. The pens are better offensively and they are more "mature" but as we all know defense wins cups. Regardless of what Malkin and Crosby learned last year, they don't have the defense to pull it off. The Pens could win if there are injuries to the Wings but otherwise it's not likely.

So why 7 games? Sorry but I just don't see the Pens beating us 3 times...

If Nick, Pav and Big E are back, Wings in 5. It sounds like Nick is back for game 1 and Big E for game 1 or 2 (worst case). We really need Pasha though or the Pens could stretch it to 7. I really wanna see Hoss skate around Melon arena with the cup. That would be priceless....

NO THEY ARE NOT. They are split 3-3 ESPN Experts What is it with the disinformation. You'd think that this was the democratic convention

Wrong. ESPN has 6 "experts" and they are split evenely 3-3 Pens-Wings

The guys that you are talking about trading are the ones that have steped it up in the playoffs. Cleary? Not going anywhere. Ralfi, forget it. Huds and Flip? maybe

Pens have 65 goals in the playoffs 33 of them are Crosby, Malkin or Guerin THATS 50.8%!! OUCH!

I'm with you. He's not better than Lids and I think that Ralfi is marginally better than Gonchar so I'd say our 3rd. I think Gonchar is better than Kroner but not dramatically so, the their is Big E, ...

Here come the Negative Nancys. Of course when we win they will say "I knew it all along".

Can you image if the Wings win the cup this year and they clinch it on the Pens ice. Just image Hossa skating around Mellon Arena with the cup held over his head in a Red Wings Jersey. Wow! would that ever piss off the Pens fans. That would be sweeeeeeeeeeet

Mindfly? Is that you?

You are assuming that they will lose? Gimme a break 4-1 Wings

Huh? Game 7 with Aneheim was the game for the Cup. That was the biggest game of the year without question.